Some days I swell up like an elephant...

Nicola Craffey

Chronicle and Macmillan Have a Good Day campaign
A MACMILLAN grant means the difference between Shaw woman Nicola Craffey getting out to socialise and being trapped in her home.

The bubbly 30-year-old just manages to make ends meet on benefits, after cervical cancer forced her to give up her job three years ago.

And it is only thanks to a Macmillan grant that she can afford to buy clothes three dress sizes up from her usual size 10 to wear when she suffers severe swelling in her leg.

The condition is caused by lymphoedema — a legacy of an aggressive treatment regime Nicola faced to fight her cancer.

It consisted of a radical hysterectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and now means Nicola has to have clothes in two sizes to allow her to get out of her home.

“The lymphoedema causes huge swellings, and when it happens I can’t get into my clothes,” she explained.

“If it wasn’t for the Macmillan grant I would just have to stay at home and wear my pyjamas until the swelling goes down.”

Nicola never knows when the swelling will hit: “One day I feel wonderful then the next I wake up the size of an elephant,” she says. “I don’t get any warning.”

Nicola, who has just been diagnosed with fibrosis of the spine — caused by her intensive radiotherapy — told her story to support the “Have a Good Day” appeal. The Chronicle has teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Support to urge readers to raise £369 — the average cost of giving someone in Oldham with cancer a good day.

Nicola, of Britannia Avenue, said: “I have times when I feel very isolated and that makes me feel depressed, but thanks to Macmillan I can now get out.

Macmillan has been absolutely amazing with me and I will do anything I can to help them help other people like myself.”

“I have had three grants now — one at the start of each winter, organised through my Macmillan nurse.”

She has had two for £150, and one for £180, and Nicola said: “It isn’t a lot of money, but it makes all the difference.”

Nicola’s dream is to recover sufficiently to go back to work. Nicola plans to start an Open University course in September to help her look for a job when she is able.


How to apply for a grant
A Macmillan grant is a one-off payment that can help to pay for anything, from heating bills and extra clothing to a much-needed break.

Anyone who has cancer or is affected by the illness or treatment can apply, but must have no more than £6,000 in savings as a single person, or £8,000 as a couple or family.

Disposable income needs to be under £100 per person in the house, once bills have been paid. Disability living allowance or attendance allowance do not count as disposable income.

An application should be made through a health or social-care professional — a social worker, district nurse, or Macmillan nurse, and must include a short medical report from a doctor, consultant or Macmillan nurse.

More information from Macmillan Cancer Support on freephone 0808-808 0000